ARTISTS AGAINST SOCIAL CLEANSING MANIFESTO (APRIL 2017)

AS ARTISTS AND ARTS WORKERS WE STAND OPPOSED TO THE USE OF ART TO ARTWASH SOCIAL CLEANSING!

When art is used as a gloss for dispossession and displacement, it is ARTWASHING.

Artwashing sells gentrification. Artwashing is Public Relations. Artwashing exploits people in vulnerable communities. Artwashing exploits the victims of social cleansing. And artwashing exploits artists.

WE OPPOSE:

The social cleansing of our cities, towns, communities, homes and lives.

Gentrification in all its pernicious forms.

Arts and cultural institutions complicit in social cleansing through artwashing.

All attempts by arts and cultural organisations to contain and manage dissent via artwashing.

All exploitation of creativity and art practice (whether by state, local authorities, housing associations, property developers, financial investors and institutions, public relations companies, arts and cultural institutions, corporate businesses, or any other profiteers).

The abuse and exploitation of artists and community members in any form.

The abusive appropriation of people's lives, memories, families, networks, communities and rights in the pursuit of profit.

Any mistreatment of artists, arts and cultural organisations, or other community members who stand up against social cleansing, artwashing or any other exploitative practice.

WE SUPPORT:

Creativity and art practice for empowerment and dissent.

Working class and other forms of minority and marginalised cultural and arts activities.

The empowerment of artists to choose not to be coerced into working for social cleansers and against communities.

The rights of artists, arts and cultural organisations and community members to speak out against social cleansing, artwashing and other malicious or exploitative practices without fear of penalty or repercussion.

The empowerment of communities and individuals who do not wish to engage with artwashing and/ or who want to speak out against social cleansing.

Any arts or cultural organisations that refuse to work for social cleansers and refuse to take part in artwashing.

The sharing of information about social cleansing, artwashing, gentrification and other exploitative and oppressive acts between members of our movement and wider audiences.

Freedom of speech and political solidarity between artists, arts and cultural organisations and institutions, and communities affected by social cleansing, gentrification and/ or artwashing.

The development of groups and movements who self-organise against social cleansing, artwashing, gentrification or any other form of exploitative or oppressive agenda, system or regime.